Jason Van Anden, Nat Hawks & David Liatti

Concept: For thousands of years, the oyster was plentiful in NYC. Governors Island sat in the middle of water teeming with the local bivalves. Humans moved in, polluted New York's water, the oysters became poisoned and eventually all but disappeared. In a way, the apple is to Eden as the oyster is to NYC - innocence lost.

Participate: Viewers will hear loud mumbles and noise coming from the room, but then, as they walk in, the oysters abruptly shut. After a moment the oysters will come back to life, at first tentatively. When left alone for a while they will cause quite a commotion.

About

...was a summer exhibition of experimental and participatory art involving more than 30 artists / collectives, with a strong emphasis on audience and artist interaction. The exhibition opened on May 31st, which was coinciding with the grand opening of Governors Island to visitors for
the 2008 season.

Getting to Governors Island

The Governors Island Ferry departs from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South Street, in Lower Manhattan. This is the old green building from 1908 that is immediately to the left of the Staten Island Ferry building on the East Side of Lower Manhattan. Please see the Governors Island website for more information.

The easiest way to get to the Battery Maritime Building via public transportation is by the #1 train to South Ferry Station, the 4/5 trains to Bowling Green Station, or the W/R trains to Whitehall Street Station.

Contact Us

Partners

EMERGENCE is a project of FIGMENT 2008. FIGMENT is a project of Action Arts League, and is produced by a coalition of volunteers in partnership with The Pure Project. FIGMENT is made possible in part with public funds from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. In addition, EMERGENCE is supported by a grant from the Black Rock Arts Foundation.